Welcome
To the January 2009 Issue of “Chronic Pain Solutions,” our Addiction-Free Pain Management® Newsletter. The weather in Sacramento has been amazing – Not January like at all. There’s a Spring-like energy to the air and a desire to get out there and “make something happen” to be a "contribution" and to be of service to our colleagues and clients. With that in mind we are called to
step-up to the challenge of how to assist healthcare professionals, as well as those suffering with chronic pain and coexisting disorders, despite treatment center budget cuts, limited training funds and negative economic news. We invite you to join us!
One of the first things we did, in collaboration with the CENAPS Corp., is to offer a New Years Sale of 3 publications at 50% off: Depression & Relapse—A Guide for Recovery by Terence T. Gorski; The Eating Addiction Relapse Prevention Workbook for Compulsive Overeaters, Binge Eaters, and Food Addicts, & the Eating Addiction High Risk Situation List Pamphlet by Dr. Stephen F. Grinstead and Dr. Shari Corbitt; and Nutritional Foundations for Recovery - Workbook 2, Written by John Newport, Ph.D., author of the The Wellness-Recovery Connection, Charting Your Pathway to Optimal Health While Recovering from Alcoholism and Drug Addiction.
The Sale is good through the End of January and limited to 5 copies of each publication. We hope that this provides some incentive and support to agencies and individuals alike. The offer is only available directly through the CENAPS office at (352) 596-8000.
In addition, we are offering trainings this spring in the Sacramento area at reduced prices. We will have scholarship seats for 2 CAMFT and 2 CADAC Interns as well as a 50% discount to all other CAMFT and CADAC interns. The dates are still being finalized for a
1-Day Are We Managing Pain or Fueling Addiction probably in Late March or early April, and a
20 Hour Addiction-Free Pain Management® Certification Training in May. Stay tuned for more details!
Last month we talked about Dr. Grinstead’s and Dr. Shari Corbitt’s new book on Eating Addiction. We are excited to announce their collaboration to present workshops based on the book, The Eating Addiction Relapse Prevention Workbook that came out in late 2008. They already have two conference engagements for this workshop later in the year. We will have more specifics (date and location) in February’s Newsletter. We hope you can join them as they begin to teach the skills necessary for effective eating addiction relapse prevention.
As always, our newsletter “Chronic Pain Solutions” will keep you apprised on our projects, the latest news stories and research we have on our website as well as upcoming events and trainings. Your input is always appreciated. On the Contact Us page feel free to email any questions or comments. January’s Question of the Month from our Readers talks about the use of Medical Marijuana.
News From The Gorski-CENAPS® Corporation
For healthcare providers who are responsible for containing the cost of addiction treatment,
relapse prevention is a top priority. It’s easy to understand when forty seven percent of patients return to chemical use within the first year following stays at private treatment programs. Of those who relapse, about 40 percent will have short-term, low consequence relapses and rapidly return to recovery, while 60 percent will have long-term, high consequence relapses that require additional costly treatment.
A specialty relapse prevention program is needed that can lower relapse rates and intervene quickly to diminish the duration, severity, and conse- quences of relapse episodes. Relapse prevention will significantly reduce the cost of treating relapse-prone patients and why Terence Gorski developed the following trainings that include optional competency certification credentialing.
The Relapse Prevention Counseling Training (20 Hours) teaches advanced clinical skills for the identification and management of high-risk situations that can cause relapse in early recovery before a stable recovery program has been fully established. The training uses a strategic RPC Treatment Plan for managing high-risk situations that is based on proven research-based cognitive-behavioral therapy procedures. (See March 12-14 and May 1-2, 2009 for trainings in Pennsylvania and New York)
The Relapse Prevention Therapy Training (44 hours) teaches advanced clinical skills training for professional clinicians who want to learn powerful approaches for supporting clients to identify and manage the core personality and life-style warning signs that lead to someone becoming dysfunctional in recovery and eventually relapsing. In its eighth revision and streamlined to be administered in a limited number of sessions, this training forms a foundation for clients to deal with the chronic, physical and emotional pain that often precedes relapse. To register for the May 4-8, 2009 training in Tampa, Florida please contact CENAPS at (352) 596-8000.
A highlight of this RPT Certification is that it is being taught by Terence T. Gorski and Dr. Stephen F. Grinstead, which gives participants
an excellent opportunity to learn from the developer of these two powerful
models – Terence T. Gorski, world recognized in Relapse Prevention and Dr.
Stephen F. Grinstead, developer of the APM System.
In other news – Terry Gorski is no longer involved in the Gorski Sober Living Project and not referring clients to the facility.
APM Coaching Groups
People with chronic pain and coexisting disorders including addiction have unique health care challenges that the traditional client with only an addictive disorder does not. To assist treatment programs in the continuing care of this population, we have developed Addiction-Free Pain Management® Continuing Care Coaching: a year long, three-phase process offered through a conference call format to provide clients with the most flexibility as they return to their families and community.
Our Goal is to support people with chronic pain conditions who are leaving residential or outpatient treatment to continue the improvements they have made, and increase their quality of life by implementing a strategic set of pain management and relapse prevention protocols developed by Dr. Stephen Grinstead.
We are also offering the APM™ Relapse Prevention Coaching Program, the purpose of which is to guide people who are living with chronic pain and may be struggling with pain medication issues who elect not to enter an in-patient or out-patient program, but are ready and willing to take responsibility for getting well.
They want to become active participants in their healing and can do so by participating in our 14-Week tele-coaching process. They will learn a strategic set of pain management protocols that will help them to recover their health and regain their independence using Dr. Grinstead’s Addiction-Free Pain Management® Workbook and the APM™ Recovery Guide.
Please check out our Coaching
Questionnaire
which is the first step of deciding if someone is ready for APM Relapse Prevention Coaching.
You can also call us directly for a confidential interview at 916-575-9961.
News and Research
The Role of Trauma in Chronic Pain Management:
Over the past 25 years I've noticed that many of my chronic patients who experienced moderate to severe coexisting psychological disorders including addiction, also suffered from moderate to severe unresolved psychological trauma—often dating back to childhood. This month I want to focus on the role of unresolved trauma in the management of chronic pain.
Research published this week in the Australian medical journal, Archives of General Psychiatry, links trauma such as emotional abuse, neglect or sexual abuse as a child, to a six-fold increased risk in developing chronic fatigue syndrome . . .
Complementary Alternative Approaches for Chronic Pain Management:
Many people living with chronic pain are looking for treatment approaches that not only work for them but are affordable. And if they're not, they really need to. In the era of HMOs and cost containment, effective treatment has been hard to come by. Unfortunately in the short term, it is more "cost-effective" for a healthcare provider to write a script for pain medication than to make sure the patient receives multidisciplinary interventions . . .
The Role of Music and Art in Chronic Pain Management:
Early in my career I discovered that the clients I worked with who were living with chronic pain fared much better when a multidisciplinary treatment approach was used that included treating the entire person. That is why I developed the Addiction-Free Pain Management® (APM) System; an important component of which is to develop nonpharmacological approaches in addition to medication management . . . .
Visit our
website
to see the complete postings as well as an archive of past research.
From Our Readers
Question:
What do you think about medical marijuana for chronic pain management?
Answer:
Over the past several decades I have listened to both sides of this issue and have seen the impact this controversy has had on many of my patients. Until recently, there has been an important piece missing in my opinion; reliable double-blind studies designed to test how effective marijuana really is as a legitimate medication. Fortunately, progress is being made. Follow the link below to read about some exciting new research that has come out since Dr. Grinstead first published his article The Medical Marijuana Controversy in 2002.
There are still many risks associated with smoked marijuana that must be considered not only in terms of immediate adverse effects on the lung; e.g., bronchi and alveoli, but also long-term effects in people with chronic diseases and those with a poor immune status. The major problems I have with someone smoking marijuana as a medicine is the inability to regulate the dosage and, even more important the delivery system. The level of THC varies so greatly in the medical marijuana currently available that coming up with a therapeutic dose is extremely difficult. In addition, marijuana has other ingredients that may have problematic side effects.
Then there is the dangerous delivery system—the issue of smoking it. The components of the smoke are hazardous, especially in the immuno-compromised patient. No other medication we have is administered that way because of the potential dangers. Fortunately, there are now other delivery systems available for the THC and other cannabinoids as non-opiate alternatives that shows some promise in the new research.
To learn more about this topic please go to our Article’s page to read or download Dr. Grinstead’s new 2009 Medical Marijuana Update.
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